Fruit-coring machine.



No.800,137. f PATENTED SEPT. 26, 1905.

A. J. BURNS.

FRUIT UORING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED snimzs. 1903.

ma Iin sists in certain combinations and arrangements UNITED STATESPATENT oEEIoE.

ALBERT J. BURNS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOFREDERICK D. H. COBB, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

FRUIT-CORING MACHINE.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1905.

Application filed September 23,1903, Serial No. 174;,284-

chines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the same, reference being had to the drawingsforming a part of this specification and to the numerals marked thereon.

. The object of my present invention is to provide a fruit-coringmachine that is capable of operating upon fruit that has been dividedinto a plurality of segments for the purpose of removing the coretherefrom in an improved manner, that involves a minimum mutilation orwaste of the fruit, and that en ables the operation to be done rapidlyand in a simple manner.

To these and other ends my inventionv conof parts to be hereinafter morefully explained, the novel features being pointed out in the claimshereunto annexed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is aside elevation of a machine embo ying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a frag mentarysectional view on the line3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4c is a detail perspectiveview of one of the receptacles removed from the conveyer. Fig. 5 is asimilar view of the coring-knife, a portion thereof being omitted; andFig, 6 is a sectional view showing a segment of fruit centered in thepocket of its receptacle.

Similar parts are designated by the same numerals of reference in theseveral Views. To facilitate an understanding of my invention, referencewill be had to the herein-shown embodiment thereof, wherein= i 5 1designates a supporting-frame arrying the bearings 2 3, revolublysupporting the shafts 4: 5, upon which are mounted wheels 6 7respectively, over which is adapted to pass an endless conveyer 8. Thisconveyer in its present form comprises a pair of sprocketchains 9 9,eachrunning over its corresponding sprocket, and between these carriers9 9 are arranged a plurality of receptacles 10, disposed at suitableintervals to form a 0on veyer for carrying forward the articles offruitto be cored in a manner to be hereinafter more fully described. I havedesigned of fruit that have been divided into segments, and in thepresent embodiment such a device is shown comprising a body portionhollowed.

out and provided with a pair of inclined sides 11 11, arranged to form apocket approxi mately-of the contour of a segment of the article offruit to be operated on.

The surfaces 12 12 at each end of the pocket are also inclined inwardlyat their lower portions in such a manner that when a segment of an 1articleof fruit is deposited therein the ends thereof will engage andslide upon these inclined surfaces as the article enters the .pocket toautomatically center itself therein,

with its central portion or core exposed by the cut-away portion oraperture. 13, formed in the apex of the pocket. Any suitable receptaclesto their carriers 8.9, that shown inthe present embodiment employing theprojections 14: 14, carried by the receptacles resting in clips 15 15 ofthe links 16 16 of the carrier and secured in position by a screw,

or other device 17.

18 is a driving-pulley connected to any suitshank or body portion 20,provided with elongated apertures 21 21 to receive the bolts 22 22 foradjustably supporting the knife upon the frame, and extending forwardlyi from the attaching portion 20 is a tongue 23,

the end of which terminates in proximity to the conveyer and is providedwith a blade 24. I have devised a novel form of knife that is especiallyadapted for coring fruit as contemplated by my invention, that formthereof illustrated in the'present embodiment comprising a blade of flatsteel or other suitable material having the edge 25 thereof sharpenedand the arms 26 26 doubled back and secured by screws or other fasteningdevices to the sides of the tongue 23 in such a manner as to permit itto be readily renewed.l In the present embodimentv of. my invention lhave shown a coring-knife of this characterextending between the wheels7 7, with its blade disposed in such a position as to enter the aper;tures 13 of the receptacles as they are carried along by the conveyer,and thus remove the core from the segment of the article of fruitresting in the pocket of the receptacle.

In practice I have found it desirable to employ some suitable device forretaining the portions of fruit within their receptacles while passingbefore the coring-knife, and in the drawings I have illustrated a guardthat I have employed for such a purpose comprising aflexible shield 26,attached at one end to the support 27 and having a plurality of clips 28arranged in pairs upon the outer periphery thereof to receive thehelical springs or other suitable devices 29, attached at one end to thesupport 27 and at its opposite end to the relatively fixed pin 30, asupplemental support 31 being provided for limiting the motion of theguard toward the conveyer. This guard is arranged to partially encirclethe periphery ofthe Wheels 7 7 and to exert through the action of thesprings 29 a resilient force upon the portions of fruit tending to pressthem into the pockets of their receptacles as they are carried past thecoringknife, the guard being so arranged that the portions of fruit mayfreely drop out of their pockets after passing the coring-knife andwhile the receptacles assume an inverted position in passing the underside of the wheels supporting'the conveyer, or if found necessary anysuitable form of ejector may be employed for positively displacing thefruit from their pockets.

A machine of this character constructed in accordance with my inventionis especially designed for operating upon apples and similar fruit thecore'of which is to be removed, wherein each article of fruit is dividedin a preliminary operation into any desired number of segments or parts,the cut sides of which will present a substantially V form, in the apexand approximate center of which is located the core to be removed. Eachportion or segment of fruit thus formed is fed by hand or other suitablemeans into the receptacles 10 10 as they are carried along by theircarrier in the direction indicated by the arrow, and as they passbeneath the guard 26 a resilient pressure will be exerted thereontending to retain them in the pockets of the receptacles until afterthey have passed the coring-knife, and after passing beyond the guardthey are free to drop from their receptacles into a suitable hopper orcontainer; but in passing the knife that portion of the fruit extendingacross and exposed by the aperture 13 and containing the core will be inline with the knife-blade 24:, and as they are carried past it saidknife will be in such a position as to enter said aperture and removethat portion of the fruit that protrudes through and is exposed by saidaperture, thus removing only the core and leaving the remaining portionof the fruit intact. The knife shown in the present embodiment isparticularly adapted for coring fruit in this manner, as the fruit willbe moved past the knife at such an angle to its cutting edge 25 as toproduce a sharp and well-defined cut, and as these blades as constructedare readily removable they may be easily replaced by sharp ones.

If found necessary or desirable, any suitable form of ejector may beemployed for positively removing the articles of fruitfrom theirreceptacles after the coring operation has been completed, a simple formof ejector being shown in the present embodiment comprising a resilientor spring arm 32, suitably supported at one end as by the relativelystationary knife and having its opposite end 3;- free and arranged toenter the apertures l3 of the receptacles and snap against the fruittherein as it passes, causing said fruit to be positively ejected fromits pocket after its core has been removed by the coring-knife.

It will be obvious that a machine embodying my invention may be cheaplyand easily constructed and in operation will enable the coring to bedone quickly and in such a manner that the core alone is removed,leaving the remaining portion of the fruit intact, thereby reducing thewaste to a minimum.

I claim as my invention 1. In a fruit-coring machine, the combinationwith a frame, and a conveyer movably mounted thereon carrying aplurality of receptacles having angularly-shaped cavities formed toreceive sections of articles of fruit to be cored and having aperturescommunieating with the apexes of said cavities to expose the cores ofthe fruit, of a coring-knife arranged in the path of said apertures ofthe receptacles and adapted to remove the core from the fruit containedtherein as they move past said knife.

2. In a fruit-coring machine, the combination with aframe, a movableconveyer mounted thereon, and a plurality of receptacles carried by saidconveyer and having angular-lyshaped cavities to receive segments offruit to be cored and apertures communicating with the apexes of saidcavities to expose the core of the fruit, of a coring-knife extendinginto the path of the cores of the fruit and apertures of saidreceptacles and arranged to remove the core from said segments as theypass.

3. In a fruit-coring machine, the combination with a frame and anendless conveyer mounted thereon carrying a plurality of receptacles forreceiving the articles of fruit to be cored, of a relatively fixed knifelocated in the path of the articles of fruit carried by said receptaclesand adapted to remove the core from said fruit as it is carried pastsaid knife, and relatively fixed retaining means located opposite to theknife for preventing the displacement of said fruit while passing saidknife.

4. In a fruit-coring machine, the combinaed thereon, and a plurality ofreceptacles each having a pocket to receive a portion of an article offruit to be cored, of a coring-knife located at one side of the conveyerand adapted to engage the fruit as it is carried past it to remove thecore therefrom, and a relatively.

fixed spring-arm located in the path of the receptacles and at the sameside of the conveyer for removing the fruit from said pockets.

5. In a fruit-coring machine, the combination with a frame, a movablecarrier supported thereby, and a plurality of receptacles each having anangularly-shaped pocket formed therein to receive a segment of fruit tobe cored, and an aperture formed in the apex of each pocket to exposethe core of the fruit contained therein, of a coring knife adapted toenter said aperture and remove the core of said fruit as it is carriedpast said knife.

6. In a fruit-coring machine, the combination with .a frame, a movablecarrier sup' ported thereby, and a plurality of receptacles carried bysaid carrier each having a pocket having inclined sides for centering asegment of an article of fruit to be cored, and a cut-away portionformed in the apex of g the pocket of each receptacle arranged to exposethe core of the fruit, of a relatively stationary knife adapted toextend into the cutaway portions of said receptacles to remove the corefrom the fruit as it is carried past said knife, and retaining means forpreventing the displacement of said fruit while passing said knife.

7. In a fruit-coring machine, the combinatlon with a carrier and aplurality of receptacles carried thereby each having a pocket formedtherein having inclined side walls to ets formed therein. to receive thefruit to be cored, of a relatively stationary knife arranged to removethe core from the fruit as it is carried past it, and a flexible shieldextending transversely opposite to the knife and on either side thereoffor yieldingly engaging said fruit to retain it within its pocket whilepassing said knife.

9. In a machine of the character described, a receptacle for receivingsegmental portions of fruit, having a pocket having side walls inclinedinwardly, and end surfaces also inclined inwardly to engage the ends ofthe segment 'of fruit and thereby center it within the pocket,

and an aperture formed in the side walls and so disposed as to exposethe core of the fruit segment lying within the pocket.

10. In a fruit-coring machine, the combination with a movable carrierhavinga plurality of receptacles for carrying the fruit to be cored, ofa coring-knife for removing the core from the fruit, and a flexible arm,located beyond the knife fixed at one end and having a portion adaptedto spring into the receptacles as they are carried past it to remove thefruit therefrom.

, 11. In a'fruit-coring machine the combination with a frame, a movablecarrier mounted thereon, and a plurality of receptacles having pocketsformed therein to receive the fruit, apertures being formed in thereceptacles through which the cores may be removed from the fruit, of acoring-knife for removing the cores of the fruit, and a flexible armbeyond the knife fixed at one end and having a portion extending intothepath of the receptacles so as to spring into the apertures therein andeject the fruit therefrom.

12. In a fruit-coring machine, the combination with a frame havingrelatively fixed sup.-

ports thereon, a flexible conveyer mounted to II1OV6' over the supports,and a series of receptacles carriedby the conveyer formed to receiveportions of fruit to be cored, of a knife located at the inner side ofthe conveyerhaving its cutting-blade arranged at one of theconveyer-supports so as to operate upon the fruit of the receptacles asthe latter are pass ing over the support, and a stationary curved shieldat the outer. side of the conveyer for v guiding the fruit past theknife. engage the lateral surfaces of a segment of receptacles havingangularly-shaped pockets to receive segmental portions'of the fruit tobe'cored, an aperture being formed therein and communicating with thepockets to expose the core to be removed, a relatively stationary knifearranged in the path of the fruit at one side of the conveyer andadapted to enter said aperture and remove said core as the fruit ,iscarried past it, and a guard located upon the opposite side of theconveyer adapted to engage the fruit to retain it in position as it iscarried past said knife.

14. In a fruit-coring machine, the combination with a frame, a pair ofsupports over which a carrier is adapted to move, and a plurality ofreceptacles on said carrier adapted to receive the fruit to be coredandhaving cut-away portions so disposed as to expose IIO tionary knifelocated at one side of the conveyer having a blade adapted to enter saidcut-away portions to remove said cores as the fruit is carried past itin said receptacles, and a guard located opposite said knife and fromthe opposite side of the eonveyer adapted to engage the fruit to retainit in said receptaeles as it is carried between it and said knife and tofree itself from the fruit after having passed the knife.

ALBERT J. B URNS. \Vitnesses:

G. WILLARD RICH, CLARENCE A. BATEMAN.

